Shelby Allen - USEA Staff

West Coast competitors are making the trek to Temecula, Calif. for the first West Coast Adequan USEA Gold Cup qualifier of 2017 at the Galway Down International Horse Trials. With sunny skies predicted and stacked competition, this weekend should be a memorable one. USEA will be on the ground and covering the three-star.

The University of Georgia (UGA) has snapped up yet another intercollegiate win, this weekend at the Poplar Place Farm March Horse Trials. Competing alongside other southeastern teams including Auburn University, University of Alabama, Columbus State University and University of Kentucky, UGA dominated with two three-member teams, UGA Red, which won, and UGA Black, which finished fourth.

At just 22-years-old Caroline Martin has scooped up her first CIC3* win after nailing a double clear cross-country round with Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice today at the Cloud 11/Gavilan North CIC & Horse Trials.Making it around Ian Stark’s big bold track in six minutes and 41 seconds proved a tall order for the Adequan USEA Gold Cup competitors, all except the winning combination. Of the 52 starters, Martin and “Dirk” were the only pair to come home within the time, a first for the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Casado x Funny Girl) at the CIC3* level.

Dubbed a “one rail horse at CICs” yesterday by jockey Clark Montgomery, Loughan Glen cleared his name today delivering a double clear show jump round to snatch the lead of the three-star division at the Cloud 11/Gavilan North Carolina International CIC & Horse Trials.

No one was surprised to see Allison Springer and the Arthur Syndicate’s Arthur end the day squarely atop the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* standings after the first phase of competition at the Cloud 11/Gavilan North Carolina International CIC & Horse Trials. Defending champions, the pair handily earned 40.7 penalty points from judges Christina Klingspor (SWE) and Robert Stevenson (USA), a three-point improvement from their winning test in 2016.

It has been a blustery start to the $65,000 Cloud 11/Gavilan North Carolina International CIC & Horse Trials as wind whipped around the dressage arenas today, giving the first Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* competitors an extra challenge on the flat. Ladies landed the top three spots after day one with Jennie Brannigan in first (41.50), Hannah Sue Burnett in second (43.10) and Caroline Martin in third (44.30).

The spring season is now in full swing after Hannah Sue Burnett and Selena O’Hanlon snapped up Adequan USEA Gold Cup wins two weeks ago at Red Hills International Horse Trials. Next up on the calendar is the Cloud Eleven-Gavilan North LLC Carolina International CIC & HT. In addition to the CIC3* and Advanced Gold Cup divisions, the Southern Pines, N.C. venue will also host Training through Intermediate levels alongside the other one- and two-star international levels.

The Charles Owen Technical Merit Award exists to encourage safe and appropriate cross-country technique. At events around the country, training level riders are judged against set criteria which includes gallop, preparation, execution of jump, rider position and general impressions. Judges, who must be either Level III or IV ICP certified, USEF Licensed Eventing Officials or USET Senior Team Riders, reward the top riders who excel at these skills.

After what seems like only the blink of an eye, the winter season is behind us and the spring leg of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is back under way starting this weekend at Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Fla. Held at the Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park, the event is now in its 19th year as top riders use the CIC3* and Advanced divisions to qualify for the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Championship this fall.